Cycle Highways? Cycle Super Highway

There was a piece on Newsnight a while ago, about a suburban town near Copenhagen I think it was, that had adopted a 'sail before steam' rights of way system, and removed ALL traffic controls and priority/lane signage and markings. It looked brilliant. In it they said that traffic jams are actually caused by traffic lights. Duh. Its not rocket surgery is it!? Hold people up, and they start getting all bunched up, so when thy get a chance to move they step on it like nutters, hammering it toward green lights that about to change etc.

God looking this thread^ makes me feel wierd. I was a bit more angry and funny when I was off the weed.

Fiendish bicyclists! You keep multiplying and getting more rights!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/7787682.stm

There was a piece on Newsnight a while ago, about a suburban town near Copenhagen I think it was, that had adopted a 'sail before steam' rights of way system, and removed ALL traffic controls and priority/lane signage and markings. It looked brilliant. In it they said that traffic jams are actually caused by traffic lights. Duh. Its not rocket surgery is it!? Hold people up, and they start getting all bunched up, so when thy get a chance to move they step on it like nutters, hammering it toward green lights that about to change etc.

God looking this thread^ makes me feel wierd. I was a bit more angry and funny when I was off the weed.

I read an article about this in the Globe and Mail a couple of years ago (I'll see if I can dig it up). Also made the point that many accidents between different road users are caused by people becoming single-minded about "their" space. You have your lane, and no one else is to enter it. Result: people don't pay attention to other road users and what they're about to do. Get rid of raised side walks and bike lanes, people are forced to be aware of their surroundings.

This isn't the article I read, but it still talks about the urban planner and what he's done in Denmark.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081018.TURNER18//TPStory/Focus

Melbourne city centre, with its associated residential reclamation of the inner city, is an interesting example in that article. Ta, 'Ratio.

Fiendish bicyclists! You keep multiplying and getting more rights!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/7787682.stm

Makes a change the gent was putting across a rational opinion.

i think skullhead is right.

20 mph, a heirachy of users, integration not segregration.

who is advising the mayor / boris on all this stuff ?

frankly, Boris is doing the opposite of what he claim he'll do about the cycling lark, he scrapped the idea of changing Parliament Square into a ped-only area, slash almost half the funding for bike infrastructure, already halted scheme to lower the amount of risk at large gyratories (like Elephant and Castle), hasn't done anything to encourage Police to start cracking down on bike theft, and seemed to be using Bendy Bus as an excuse to get rid of them due to cyclists getting killed by some..

...hold on, no cyclists has been killed by a bendy bus.

Fiendish bicyclists! You keep multiplying and getting more rights!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/7787682.stm

A typical mish-mash of ill-informed comments, seemingly well-meaning in that condescending sort of way that people can have who probably feel secure in what they perceive to be the majority opinion while somehow imagining they're being original and solving really pressing problems ...

FWIW, the digested viewing:

. Cycling is neither 'cheap' nor 'absolutely green'. On either count, the truth is more moderately attired.

. He is right to be concerned about footway cycling, but the conclusions he draws from this as to what ought to be done are the usual over-reaction.

. There are actually very few collisions arising from footway cycling.

. Cyclists are quite often insured.

  . A registration scheme would be a major disincentive to cycling and at any rate unworkable. ‘I remember the days when we used to register our dogs at the post office’. Killer argument.

. And eventually he lets the cat out of the bag and reveals what he really wants and what inspired the rest of this tosh--tax bicycles. Superb idea.

** The digested viewing, digested:**

You don't say.

A typical mish-mash of ill-informed comments, seemingly well-meaning in that condescending sort of way that people can have who probably feel secure in what they perceive to be the majority opinion while somehow imagining they're being original and solving really pressing problems ...

FWIW, the digested viewing:

. Cycling is neither 'cheap' nor 'absolutely green'. On either count, the truth is more moderately attired.

. He is right to be concerned about footway cycling, but the conclusions he draws from this as to what ought to be done are the usual over-reaction.

. There are actually very few collisions arising from footway cycling.

. Cyclists are quite often insured.

  . A registration scheme would be a major disincentive to cycling and at any rate unworkable. ‘I remember the days when we used to register our dogs at the post office’. Killer argument.

. And eventually he lets the cat out of the bag and reveals what he really wants and what inspired the rest of this tosh--tax bicycles. Superb idea.

** The digested viewing, digested:**

You don't say.

In the guys defense, at least he wasn't demonising us like most of the media.

EDIT: poo flaps

There's just the one hippy bastard..

sorry hippy I edited.

This morning on BBC1 News, there was a brief mention regarding Boris and 2 Cycle Super Highways to be finished by next May ( 2010 ).

1' Tower hill to somewhere.... can't remember

2' South Wimbledon to Bank

I got very excited when i saw this, but I can't find a link on the BBC website or infact on Google.

Does anyone know more about this ? Have a link ?

What will a Super Highway entail ? 2 lanes each way, one for over taking ?

What do you think about it ? I am thrilled, but dont have full details.....

In belgium, the govt pays farmers to build smooth two lane cycle road through their land. Its ace.

I'm sure oliver will have something to say about this?

According to here :
"Cycle Highways will offer many benefits to cyclists, including providing safe, direct, continuous and visible routes," said the Mayor. "They will be clearly marked and easy to identify. It is not intended however that they be segregated along the full length of the route."

So basically just another cycle lane as far as I can tell, except in blue (because tory boy borris likes making things blue)...

Another quote from somewhere else:
"Hot news from last night's Southwark Cyclists meeting. Routes for the first two of Boris Johnson's proposed 12 cross-London cycle superhighways, distinguished by blue asphalt, have been decided. Apparently they're to be ready by May 2010 (when the London Bike Hire scheme is also to being operation).

One will go through Southwark (A24 - A3 - Merton - Tooting - Kennington Park Road - Elephant and Castle improved bypass - Southwark Bridge Road - Southwark Bridge - City.

What precise shape the route will take through the Elephant's notorious double-roundabout, given the stalled redevelopment works, is still to be decided.

The other pilot route is City - Cable Street - east out along the A13"

Personnaly I'm not a fan of segregated bike lanes. If they had right of way over all traffic crossing it I might re consider. The fact is though that it's just hot air that will be badly implemented.

(by the way, it was originally Ken's idea)

Although as i do the A24 to city route anyway it might be of interest.

That doesnt quite sound like a ' Super ' Highway.....

You may not be a fan of segregated bike lanes, but it will get alot more people onto their bikes to commute :)

Full press release:
**
London's Cycle Superhighways - First two routes unveiled**
Pilot corridors, to launch in May 2010, will run from South Wimbledon to Bank and Barking to Tower Hill

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, today unveiled proposed routes for the first two of London’s twelve Cycle Superhighways - the corridors for cyclists that are a key part of his policy to stimulate a cycling revolution in the capital.

The two pilot routes, which will be up and running in May 2010, are from South Wimbledon to Bank via the A24 and A3, and Barking to Tower Hill via the A13 and Cable Street. The Mayor and TfL are consulting closely with the eight boroughs that the routes will run through.

The aim of the Cycle Superhighways is to provide safe, direct and continuous routes into central London from the outer boroughs, making life easier for cyclists and encouraging those who travel into work by other modes of transport to commute by bike, helping to cut congestion, relieve overcrowding, and cutting emissions.

Another ten routes, spanning across London and greatly improving the capital’s cycling infrastructure, are being developed ahead of 2012, with each route covering between 10 and 15km.

The Mayor said: “I'm not kidding when I say that I'm militant about cycling, and these Superhighways are central to the cycling revolution I'm determined to bring about. No longer will pedal power have to dance and dodge around petrol power - on these routes the bicycle will dominate and that will be clear to all others using them. That should transform the experience of cycling - boosting safety and confidence of everyone using the routes and reinforcing my view that the bike is the best way to travel in this wonderful city of ours."

The Mayor has made the coming months London's summer of cycling, which he hopes will kick-start a major boom in the number choosing pedal power, and as part of this he is giving new detail to his plans to make London a true cycling city.

The Mayor continued: “I'm delighted that, as part of our summer of cycling, I can now unveil plans for the first two pilot routes, which are moving apace in close consultation with the relevant boroughs. There is real excitement about cycling building in the city, and the Cycle Superhighways show we are serious about delivering real positive changes that will benefit us all."

The two pilot routes will link residential areas like Tooting, Clapham, Poplar and Canning Town to central London and will run on a combination of the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) and roads owned and managed by the London boroughs.

Each route will be given its own identity with consistent and easy to follow road markings and signs. Safety issues will be addressed through specific measures such as the provision of advance stop boxes and providing continuous lanes through junctions as appropriate.

In addition, obstructions will be minimised and improvements made to road surfaces to ensure a smoother ride.

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor's Director of Transport Policy, said: "Cycle Superhighways form a key part of the Mayor and TfL’s target to increase cycling in London by 400 per cent by 2025, compared to 2000 levels. From cycling the proposed routes myself, and speaking to a whole range of cyclists, I'm sure that these routes will prove a hugely welcome addition to London's cycling infrastructure - giving many more people the confidence to ride".

David Brown, Managing Director of Surface Transport at TfL said: "The routes will provide safe, fast and direct routes into central London and, once completed, are likely to run through around 24 London boroughs.

"TfL has started discussions with the boroughs and other interested groups to define and develop detailed plans for the scheme. Further information will be released on the pilot routes and remaining ten Cycle Superhighways as these conversations progress and detailed schedules are finalised."

Alongside the delivery of twelve Cycle Superhighways, the Mayor and TfL will introduce a range of initiatives aimed at encouraging more Londoners to travel by bike. These include cycle training, the development of a cycle hire scheme, cycle parking, and a host of events.

Sounds cool. Will make no difference to me but I'm not the target audience.

I hope other cities start to take this on too. As much as we moan about drivers and roads in London I think that we forget how bad most other cities are especially places like Birmingham. Lets hope this kind of planning spreads.

They be full o' fuckin scooters and double deckers within seconds

I'll stick to the road and be take me chances thanks very much

Sounds to me like Boris has some green paint which is surplus to requirements.

I think we must remember they they are not being built for confident riders but to encourage new riders and then hopefully as confidence grows and if training is available they will progress.

Sounds to me like Boris has some green paint which is surplus to requirements.

blue

Being somewhat cynical about any scheme introduced by a Tory i can't help but think there is going to be a catch to this sceme somewhere further down the line

blue

Oh...

Well thats ok then.

Quote;
The aim of the Cycle Superhighways is to provide safe, direct and continuous routes into central London from the outer boroughs, making life easier for cyclists and encouraging those who travel into work by other modes of transport to commute by bike, helping to cut congestion, relieve overcrowding, and cutting emissions.

Another ten routes, spanning across London and greatly improving the capital’s cycling infrastructure, are being developed ahead of 2012, with each route covering between 10 and 15km.

The Mayor said: “I'm not kidding when I say that I'm militant about cycling, and these Superhighways are central to the cycling revolution I'm determined to bring about. No longer will pedal power have to dance and dodge around petrol power - on these routes the bicycle will dominate and that will be clear to all others using them. That should transform the experience of cycling - boosting safety and confidence of everyone using the routes and reinforcing my view that the bike is the best way to travel in this wonderful city of ours."

I hope he sticks to it, its about time.

Thanks PhotoBen.

Being somewhat cynical about any scheme introduced by a Tory i can't help but think there is going to be a catch to this sceme somewhere further down the line

I think this country is really suffering from this mentality of Tory = bad. They are no worse than another party really but this skepticism does not help. You need to take every idea on it's merits. Otherwise it's equivalent to political racism.

FWIW I am not a Tory voter I just don't think an instant dislike or negative feeling about an idea just because it comes from one particular party is helpful.